Comments on: Why do you have a fear of public speaking?

By: Presentazioni efficaci #3: davanti al pubblico | Alessandra Farabegoli

Presentazioni efficaci #3: davanti al pubblico | Alessandra Farabegoli — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:39:14 +0000

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By: Presentazioni efficaci #3: davanti al pubblico | Common Sense Dispenser

Presentazioni efficaci #3: davanti al pubblico | Common Sense Dispenser — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:30:59 +0000

[...] paura e come affrontarli; vi segnalo in proposito due interessanti post di Olivia Mitchell, sulle origini evolutive della paura e sui diversi tipi di [...]

By: Presentazioni efficaci #3: davanti al pubblico – Alessandra Farabegoli

Presentazioni efficaci #3: davanti al pubblico – Alessandra Farabegoli — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:35:41 +0000

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By: Presentazioni efficaci #3: davanti al pubblico « common sense dispenser

Presentazioni efficaci #3: davanti al pubblico « common sense dispenser — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:13:52 +0000

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By: Overcoming Fear Of Speaking

Overcoming Fear Of Speaking — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:54:14 +0000

[...] Why do you have a fear of public speaking? [...]

By: Reframe It -- It's Your Web, Speak Up, Give It Context

Reframe It -- It's Your Web, Speak Up, Give It Context — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:06:41 +0000

benthomas48 had this to say…

Why do you have a fear of public speaking?…

By: Pivotal Public Speaking » The fear of public speaking … and evolutionary psychology

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:01:54 +0000

[...] Read more … [...]

By: Olivia Mitchell

Olivia Mitchell — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:01:29 +0000

Hi David, great to have your views. I agree that some people may have had experiences in their childhood school years which have led to their fear. However, that doesn’t explain everybody who has a fear of public speaking. That’s one of the reasons why I think an evolutionary explanation makes sense. Olivia

By: David Portney, Public Speaking Training "Wizard"

David Portney, Public Speaking Training "Wizard" — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:41:27 +0000

Somewhat coincidentally, yesterday I was blogging about the origins of fear of public speaking.

Based on my experiences and the stories of many of my students, I firmly believe that fear of public speaking originates in our childhood school years when our identities are not yet formed fully, and we’re highly sensitive to the opinions of our peers.

As we get older those opinions mean less to us as we form a solid sense of self separate from “what THEY might say about us”.

But, those school years often have a lingering effect where the strong fear of being criticized, singled out, taunted (visit any school right now and you’ll see it) or even outright bullying stays with us into adult life and is called forth when we are called forth to be in front of people, therefore in a position to be judged, and the fear is being judged harshly.

On the bright side, this is a problem easily handled when someone faces and moves past initial trepidation about speaking in front of people. Then, typically, they find it exhilarating and even addicting.

Best,
David Portney